Levels and distributions of organic source tracers in air and roadside dust particles of Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

The concentrations of n-alkanes, unresolved complex mixture (UCM), petroleum molecular markers, other tracers of cooking and burning emissions, and natural background in atmospheric particles and roadside dust particles were measured at eight locations in the city center and the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Atmospheric particles were collected using high-volume filtration (PM-10, GFF) over 24 h average periods. Road dusts were swept up, dried and sieved. Both types of samples were extracted with dichloromethane/methanol mixture (3:1 v/v) by ultrasonic agitation. The extracts were then fractionated by column chromatography and the alkanes subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Total extracts were also analyzed directly by GC–MS after silylation. The molecular distributions of compounds as well as diagnostic geochemical ratios were determined in order to identify the sources of the organic compounds. Samples collected from a rural area and lubricating oils were also analyzed for comparisons. Anthropogenic and biogenic sources such as vehicular emissions, waxes of higher plants, food cooking operations, and biomass and domestic refuse burning processes contributed to the organic matter content of atmospheric and to lesser extent, roadside dust particles.     

The Investigation of Mass Transfer in the Karasu Karstic Aquifer, Konya, Turkey

In this study, the changes in the chemical composition of the groundwater along a flow path were examined by using the water samples collected from unconfined, semi-confined and confined parts of the Karasu karstic aquifer. It was determined that transport of bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium was dominant in unconfined and semi-confined parts of the aquifer, whereas calcite and dolomite precipitate in the confined parts. On the other hand, gypsum dissolution is present in all parts of the aquifer. In addition, the computed saturation indices explain the occurrences and precipitation of travertines in the Goksu Valley, which is the discharge area for the aquifer. Electronic Publication     

Molecular dynamics modeling of stishovite

A Morse-stretch potential charge equilibrium force field for silica system has been employed to simulate the thermodynamics of stishovite with the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The equation of state, thermal expansivity and melting curve of stishovite have been obtained. This simple force field yielded results in accordance with the static and dynamic experiments. The stishovite melting simulation appears to validate the interpretation of superheating of the solid along the Hugoniot in the shock melting experiments. MD simulations show that the thermal expansivity of stishovite at lowermost mantle conditions is a weak function of temperature. The phase diagram of silica up to the mega bar regime is proposed based on the experimental and theoretical studies. The related physical and geophysical implications are addressed.     

Fluoride ion contamination in the groundwater of Mithi sub-district, the Thar Desert, Pakistan

Groundwater samples were collected from various localities of Mithi sub-district of the Thar Desert of Pakistan and analysed for fluoride ion along with other chemical parameters. The area is mainly covered by sand dunes and kaolin/granite at variable depths. Results showed that collected water samples were severely contaminated by the presence of fluoride ion and most of the samples have higher concentration than prescribed WHO standards (1.5 mg/l) for drinking water. Fluoride ion concentrations ranged between 0.09 and 11.63 mg/l with mean and median values of 3.64 and 3.44 mg/l, respectively, in this area whereas, distribution pattern showed high concentrations in the vicinity of Islamkot and Mithi towns. The content of F⁻ has also been correlated with other major ions found in the groundwater of the study area. The positive correlation of F⁻ with Na⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻ showed that the water with high Na⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻ stabilizes F⁻ ions in the groundwater of the Thar Desert. The pH versus F⁻ plots signifies high fluoride concentration at higher pH values, implying that alkaline environment favours the replacement of exchangeable OH⁻ with F⁻ in the groundwater of Mithi area. The saturation indices (SI) of fluorite (CaF₂) and calcite (CaCO₃) in the groundwater samples showed that most of the samples are oversaturated with respect to calcite whereas majority of samples have been found under saturated with respect to fluorite. The log TDS and Na/Na+Ca ratio reflected supremacy of weathering of rocks, which promotes the availability of fluoride ions in the groundwater. Piper diagram has been used to classify the hydrofacies. In the cation triangle, all samples are Na-type, while the anion triangle reflects major dominance of Cl-type with a minor influence of HCO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ⁻.     

Pedo and biogeochemical study of Zinc-Lead deposits of the Besham area,northern Pakistan: its implication in mineral exploration and environmental degradation

The distribution of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni and Co in the plant species and soil of the Zn-Pb sulfide deposits of the Besham area in Pakistan has been studied for geochemical prospecting and environmental pollution. Representative samples of several plant species and associated soil were collected and analyzed by the atomic absorption technique. The data suggest that the plants, especially Plectranthus rugosus, Artemisia indica and Verbascum thapsus, in the mineralized area are enriched in Zn, Pb and Cu (Zn>Pb>Cu) and depleted in Cr, Ni and Co. This is correlated with the concentration of these metals in the associated soil. There is no significant correlation of elements among each other in plants and soil; however, strong correlation of Cu, Cr and Ni has been observed between plants and associate soil. Plectranthus rugosus has the greatest capability for accumulating Zn and Pb in its tissues through soil and can be used as a bioindicator for base metal mineral exploration. This plant along with other plant species such as Artemisia indica and Verbascum thapsus having high scavenging ability for Zn and Pb from the soil and could cause serious environmental and health problems in the living organisms of the area.     

Delineation of groundwater zones using lithology and electric tomography in the Khartoum basin, central Sudan

The three towns of Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum are located north of the capital of Sudan. This capital has agglomerated to reach more than 7 million inhabitants. The present situation is confronted with a dramatic shortage in freshwater supply. The treatment of surface water from the Nile became costly, particularly in flood season. Thus the authorities turned towards developing groundwater resources. The electric tomography, obtained by the combination of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and well logs, turned out to be very efficient to provide a complete electrical image of the underground from the surface until about 200-m depth. This methodology constitutes a very cheap guide for the evaluation of the quality of groundwater resources in the Khartoum area. To cite this article: M.T. Hussein, H.S. Awad, C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Geomorphic evidence for active tectonic deformation in the coastal part of Eastern Black Sea,Eastern Pontides,Turkey

The Eastern Pontides (EP), which is the under transpressional deformation zone, is an active mountain belt that has been rising rapidly since the Cenozoic era because of the Arabian-Eurasian convergence. Morphometric studies have been performed to investigate the tectonic activity of this region and better understand the characteristics of the faults geomorphologically; the faults control the mountain fronts in the drainage basin of the EP. The results show the Hypsometric Curve (HC)-Hypsometric Integral (0.37-HI-0.67), Basin-Shaped Analysis (1.2-B_s-7), Valley-Floor-Width to Height-Ratio (0.4-V_f-1.2) and Asymmetry Factor (35-AF-81) applied to 46 drainage basins together with 9 tectonically controlled geomorphic indices (1.2-S_mf-1.5) and a Stream Length Gradient (30-S_L-120) indicate that the EP is tectonically active, and when the areas are evaluated according to S_mf and V_f analyses, the tectonic level is relatively high. According to our conceptual model for the uplifting of the EP, with respect to field studies and morphometric analysis, (i) the EP is the active deformation zone and has a “push-up” geometry in conjunction with the North Anatolian Fault; (ii) the EP is progressively uplifting at a rate of more than 0.5 mm/yr in along with the thrust faults of the Black Sea Fault (BSF) and Borjomi-Kazbegi Fault (BKF).     

Delineating key determinants of domestic fuelwood consumption of rural households in western Himalaya-policy implications

A study was carried out in district Samba of Western Himalayan province of Jammu and Kashmir of India.The data were collected in an interview schedule in personal interview with 180 household heads.The association between the level of fuelwood consumption（low versus high consumption） and different factors,each individually,was investigated using chi-square test of association at 0.001 level of significance.It was found that out of 25 socio-economic,biophysical and alternate fuel factors,15 factors（each individually） significantly influenced the domestic fuelwood consumption.Logistic regression models of alternate fuel use,social,economic and biophysical factors were developed to identify key variables influencing fuelwood consumption levels within each respective category.A composite model was also developed to identify key factors when all variables in all the pre-said categories were considered simultaneously.Surprisingly,in contrast to expectation the model with alternate fuel use did not provide a good fit.The biophysical model also did not provide a good fit.The economic and composite models were the same with equal level of accuracy of predication.This implies that economic aspects,rather than the availability of alternate fuels,dominate fuelwood consumption levels of rural households.Strategies to increase the exposure of the head of household to outside world needs to formulated to reduce the domestic fuelwood consumption levels.Households nearer to state forests are to be educated about efficient use of fuelwood and be encouraged to intensify use of Liquified Petroleum Gas.The wider implications of study are：the availability of alternate fuels is not a necessary condition to decrease household level domestic fuelwood consumption.Economic factors needs to be considered in designing strategies to reduce fuelwood consumption.Increased employment opportunities would increase the opportunity cost of fuelwood collection and this would reduce its use.     

Exploring Placer Gold Deposits through Integrated Geophysical and Geochemical Techniques at the Confluence of the Indus and Kabul Rivers, NW Pakistan

Analysis of the anomalous magnetic mineral intensities and geochemistry for placer gold deposits are presented for those of the Attock area at the confluence of the Indus and Kabul rivers in northwestern Pakistan. Two grids covering an area of 10 x18 m² and 8 x10 m² were analyzed using a G-858 Cesium Vapor Magnetometer. The anomalous zones obtained were plotted on contour maps, 2 D and 3 D magnetic intensity maps. Based on the magnetic anomalies, grid-1 of the study area wa...